In this day and age, I thought the human race could get past bigoted, racist, lowest-common-denominator phrases like that. We’re supposed to be a nation of inclusion, not a nation of exclusion.

Phrases like “haji marts” and “haji stores” should never be used. It’s derogatory and it demeans hard-working men and women of all faiths and creeds. It was wrong two years ago when the Albany County Executive used the words “haji stores” to describe convenience stores in the Capital District, and it’s wrong when a popular radio station uses similar phraseology. Even if a person who practices the Islamic faith, or a person who can trace their ancestry to the Middle East, operates a convenience store, why in the world would you refer to that person as a “haji” or his business as a “haji store”?

Come on, WFLY. I realize that you put together this song as a joke, as a satire of what people might perceive as the “Smallbany” culture and ethos. That being said… even with all that in mind…

You should be ashamed of yourself. This was not satire. This was not funny. This was a direct attempt to demean and marginalize.